Identifying the substages of the Sensorimotor Stage
Into which substage would you place each of the following infants? Discuss why you chose this substage.
1. Juan accidentally pushes his stuffed toy, and it makes a noise as it is squeezed. Juan laughs and does it again, and again, and again.
2. Linnea is sitting in her highchair. She holds her right arm high above her head and drops her spoon on the floor. Her mother giggles, picks it up, and hands it to her. Linnea then holds her right arm straight out from her body and drops her spoon. After her mother retrieves it, she holds her arm straight out in front of her and drops her spoon.
3. Noelle wants to go outside to play. She is carrying her cup of water in one hand and her doll (it goes everywhere with her) in the other. She realizes that she cannot push the door open because both of her hands are full. Consequently, she places her doll under her arm and uses her free hand to open the door.
4. Lionel is watching his new little sister, Sybil, sleep. He notices that her burp cloth has fallen off the changing table and is near her face. He reaches down to remove the burp cloth and in doing so, the burp cloth gently brushes Sybil’s face. Sybil turns her head towards the burp cloth and opens her mouth. In which substage would you place Sybil?
5. Kendall and her mother play a game where they touch each other’s noses and giggle. Kendall’s mother touches her nose, and then Kendall touches her mother’s nose. One time, Kendall’s mother places a handkerchief between her face and Kendall’s face. Kendall swipes the handkerchief away with one hand and touches her mother’s face with the other.
6. Isaac and his mother are playing a game of hide-and-seek. Isaac’s mother places his toy car under a pillow and Isaac giggles as he retrieves it. One time Isaac’s mother pretends to place the toy car under the pillow but instead places it under the blanket. Isaac picks up the pillow and becomes upset when he realizes that the car isn’t there.
7. Phil is just lying on his back when he manages to grasp his foot. He smiles and lets go. His mother watches as he wiggles around until he manages to grasp his foot again.
